Apparatus for observing revolving objects



A. R. BOAZ April 4, 1939.

APPARATUS FOR OBSERVING REVOLVING OBJECTS Filed AAug. 30, 1935 PatentedApr. 4, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Aram Robert non, Aston, London,England, assigner to R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y.,

a. corporaton of New York Application August 30,

6Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for observing movingobjects and more particularly to such apparatus for use in observingrotating objects, wherein provision is made to cause the object viewedto appear as though it were at a xed point.

The invention is particularly useful in observing objects or spotsdisposed on the face of a rotating disc or on the end face of a rotatingelement of a machine.

This invention broadly contemplates the provision of means, including anoptical system arranged to reilect an image of a revolving object to theviewpoint o1' an observer, and wherein means to compensate for themovement of the object is included, to cause the image viewed to appearas at a fixed point.

The invention has for one of its principal objects, the provision ofapparatus for observing a chosen spot on a rotating object, whichincludes means to cause the object to appear as at a xed point, andwherein this means is given a multiple swinging movement in synchronismwith the revolution of the object.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus forreducing the apparent movement of a revolving object in the image to beviewed, means to direct a reilection of the image to a positionconvenient to the vision of an observer.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of thisnature, mechanism to provide a multiple swinging movement for a lightreflecting member, disposed to receive light rays from a revolvingobject, and which substantially eliminates movement from the image ofthe spot viewed and causes it to appear asA at a ilxed point.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus forobserving revolving objects, of generally improved construction, wherebythe device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, aswell as convenient, practical, serviceable and elcient in its use.

With the fo going and other objects in view, which will ap ar as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the association of an apparatus,embodying the features of this invention, with a rotating disc uponwhich is an object to be viewed;

1935, Serial No. 38,509

(Cl. SBA-14) Figure 2 is a side view oi the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section of the image movement eliminating means, taken online 3 3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow, and 5Figure 4 is a iragmental side view of another form of my invention.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1, the apparatus of thisinvention may be arranged within an enclosure I, which is disposed inrela- 10 tion to the face of a rotating machine part, such as arotatable disc I2, so that the said apparatus is in proper position tooperate eiilciently to accomplish the results desired. The object to beobserved may be a chosen spot, or any object ll requiring periodicinspection or observance, and which, it will be assumed, is disposedupon the free face of the disc 2, at I3. The disc I2 maybe rotated byany suitable means. and is herein shown as being driven by a driven gearin mesh with a gear Il. secured to a shaft I5, upon which the disc I2 ismounted.

A light reflecting member, such as a mirror I6, is mounted on trunnionsI1, for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, to a frame Il, which inturn is mounted on trunnions Il, for swinging movement on a verticalaxis, to a supporting bracket 2|. The bracket 2| may be secured to abase 22 which may form the bottom of the enclosure II. The abovemounting of the member I6 constitutes a structure permitting itsuniversal movement, whereby an image of a revolving object refiectedthereby will be caused to appear as at a ilxed point when the member isswung on the trunnions Il and I9.

The means to cause the universal or multiple swinging movement of themember I6 upon the trunnions I1 and I9, is herein illustrated asincluding an adjustable crank, comprising a plate 23 rotatably supportedby a standard 24, and having its shaft 25 journaled therein, and alsohaving a radially movable block 26 slidably mounted in a radial slot 21formed in its face. The block 26 may be moved radially upon the plate 23by a screw 28 threadingly engaging the same and being journaled to theplate in a lug 2l formed thereon. A composite shaft 3|, having separatesections operably connected by a slip joint 30 which secures thesections against relative rotation but permits relative axial movementthereof, is se cured at one end to the center of the member I6 and hasits other end connected to the block 26 by a ball and socket joint,herein formed by a ball 32 on the end oi' shaft 3|, and a cooperatingsocket 33 in the block 26.

A gear 3.is secured tc the shaft 25, whereby the plate 23 is rotated insynchronism with the disc I2, through gearing including a gear 35 inmesh with the gear 3l. The gear 35 is herein shown secured to a shaft 36which extends toward the gear Il into position to be driven therebythrough a gear 31 in mesh therewith. Due to the driving means abovedescribed. the member I6 will be moved in synchronism with the rotationof the disc I2, whereby an image of the object I3, on the disc I2, willbe continuously reflected from the member Il toward a point 3l, commonto all positions of theobject I3, during its rotation with the disc I2.As seen vat this point, the object I3 will have no translationalmovement, but will appear to be turning about its own center. I'hisresult will be obtained at all revolving speeds of the disc I2 due tothe driving connection between the same and the member I6, whereby theobject I3 and the member I6 are moved in synchronism. Variations in theradial disposition ofthe object I3 on disc I2 may be compensated for byradial adjustment of the block 26 on plate 23.

An image reflecting member .'IiIis provided, and disposed at the point38, to reflect the image of the object I3 to a magnifying means 4I,whereby an observer may view an enlarged image for close inspectionthereof. lIf desired, a rotating prism, of a known type, as indicated atIS in Figure 4, may be interposed between the member 39 and the lens 4Ito intercept the reflected light rays, and by providing means to drivethe prism at one half the speed of the disc, the apparent rotation ofthe observed image about its own axis, will be eliminated, therebycausing the image to appear to the observer continuously erect, as wellas in a fixed position. The means to drive the prism 46 may include agear 46' which rotates with the prism, and any preferred driveinstrumentality, not shown, operably interposed between the gear I0' andany selected moving or driving component of the device.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoingdescription to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for observing an object on a revolving element, afixed light reflecting surface, an inclined reflecting surface mountedfor universal movement which varies its inclination and maintains it incontinuous reflecting relation with the fixed reflecting surface, meansfor operably connecting the revolving element and the said movablereflecting surface to impart universal movement to the saidreflectingsurface in synchronism with the revolving element thereby varying theinclination of the movable reflecting surface in accordance with themovement of the object on the revolving element to continuously reflectan image of the revolving object to the fixed reflecting member, thefixed reflecting member reflecting the said image to a fixed viewpoint.

2. In an apparatus for observing an object on a revolving element, aninclined reflecting surface mounted for universal movement which variesits inclination and maintains it in continuous reflecting relation to afixed point, a crank mounted for rotation, means for operably connectingthe crank with the revolving element to rotate the crank in synchronismwith the revolving element, adjustable means for operably connecting thecrank and the said movable reflecting surface to impart universalmovement to the reflecting surface in synchronism with the revolvingelement thereby varying the inclination of the movable reflectingsurface in accordance with the movement of the object on the revolvingelement to cause the said reflecting surface to continuously follow theobject on the revolving element and reflect it to the fixed point.

3. In an apparatus for observing an object on a revolving element, afixed light reflecting surface, an inclined reflecting member mountedfor multiple swingingmovement which varies its inclination and maintainsit in continuous reflecting relation with the fixed reflecting surface,means for operably connecting the revolving elementI with the saidswingable reflecting member to impart universal movement to theswingable reflecting member in synchronism with the revolving elementthereby varying the inclination of the swingable reflecting member inaccordance with the movement of the object on the revolving element tocontinuously reflect an image of the revolving object to the fixedreflecting surface, the fixed reflecting surface reflecting the saidimage to a` fixed viewpoint.

4. In an apparatus for observing an object on a revolving element, aninclined light reflecting t member supported independently of therevolving element and mounted for universal movement which varies itsinclination and maintains it in continuous reflecting relation to afixed point,

means operably connecting the universally movt able reflecting member tothe revolving element to move the said reflecting member in synchronismwith the revolving object thereby varying the inclination of thereflecting member in accordance with the movement of the object on therevolving element to reflect an image of the object to the fixed point,said connection including a crank mechanism adapted for adjustment tochange the angle of inclination of the movable reflecting member tocompensate for the radial disposition of the object being observed.

5. In a device for observing a component of an element revolving aboutan axis, a fixed ref'iecting surface, and an inclined reflecting surfacemounted for universal movement about a point located in axial alinementwith the axis of the 'j revolving element, which movement varies itsinclination, means for operably connecting the inclined movablereflecting surface with the revolving element to move the inclinedmovable reflecting surface in synchronism therewith and in predeterminedrelation to the fixed reflecting surface'thereby varying the inclinationof the inclined movable reflecting surface in accordance with themovement of the component on the revolving element to continuouslyreflect an image of the observed component of the revolving element tothe fixed reflecting surface, the fixed reflecting surface reflectingthe said image to a fixed point of observation located at one side ofthe axis of the revolving element.

6. In a device for observing a component of a revolving object, a fixedreflecting member, a universally movable reflecting member, members foroperably connecting the universally movable refleeting member to therevolving object to operably move the universally movable reflectingmember in synchronism with the revolving object and in predeterminedrelation to the fixed reflecting member to continuously reflect an imagethe revolving object whereby the amplitude of operable movement of theuniversally movable reflecting member may be varied to compensate forthe radial position of the observed component of the revolving object.

ARTHUR ROBERT BOAZ.

